Dispensing device



od. 21, v1941. A M A. MIKESH 2,260,259 l.

DIsPENsING DEVICE Filed April 6, 1940 I2 Il INVENTOR FIG l MARTIN A.Mum-:SH

BY um? 25W ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 21, 1941 DISPENSING DEVICE Martin A.Mikesh, Lawrenceville, N. J., assignor to The M. W. Kellogg Co., NewYork, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application April 6, 1940, Serial No 328,336

7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to metering devices for use in theelectrical fusion of metals and is in the nature of an improvement ofthe metering devices of Patent No. 2,174,175.

It is an object of this invention to provide a metering device of thecharacter mentioned, of improved and simplified construction, which in'-cludes a minimum of moving parts subject to Wear and which is capable oflong and uninter-r rupted accurate operation without necessitatingshut-downs for repair or replacement of parts.

The further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the following description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly in section and partlyexploded, showing the novel metering device in various stages ofassembly,

Fig. 2 is a planview also showing the novel device in various stages ofassembly, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View of av modified detailof the noveldevice.

The metering device of the invention, while of general application, isparticularly adapted for use in the electrical fusion of metals, whereingranular materials in the form of alloys such as ferro-chrome,ferro-manganese, etc., or pure metals such as nickel, cobalt, etc., aresupplied at controlled rates to the current discharge gap through ahollow electrode, as disclosed in the U. S. Patent No. 2,174,175 abovementioned. While one or a plurality of the metering devices l may beused as required by the particular installation, three such devices havebeen shown as by so doing the number of iigures'required for a completeshowing have been materially reduced. The arrangement shown also servesto illustrate the manner in which the metering de-V vices, because oftheir simplified construction can be nested to conserve space and tosimplify the design of the machine of which they became apart.

As shown, particularly in Fig. 1, metering devices ID Aare arranged tobe driven from the same power source; this showing is merelyillustrative as the metering devices may be individually driven orgrouped in any manner to be driven in any preferred Way.

Drive shaft II is mounted for rotation in tubular housing I2 upon whichare supported, in registry with appropriate holes, tubular standards I3.Standards I3 may be of diierent lengths as shown so that devices In maybe nested and thus reduce the required length of housing I2. Aside fromthe length of standards I3 metering devices I0 are of identicalconstruction so that a description of one of them will suiiice for all.Y

A shaft I4 is mounted in bearings in standard I3 to be driven as throughbevel gears I5 by shaft I I. On the top of standard I3 is provided acover plate I6 shaped to accommodate a cap Il which encircles shaft I4and closes the top end of standard I3 to the ingress of particles of thematerial handled.

Standard I3 includes an enlarged portion I8 provided with a shoulder forthe support of a sleeve I9 that encircles standard I3. A casting 20 issupported, concentrically with shaft I4 on the shoulders provided by thetop of sleeve I9 and by cover plate I6.

Casting 20, Figs. l and 2, is made up of a plurality'of equally spacedradially extending portions 2| and 22 that are connected by webs 23.Three portions 2| and two portions 22 are provided. Portions 2| includecup like bosses 24 into which seat springs 25. Portions 22 also includecup like bosses 24 into which springs 25 seat, but in addition, includebosses 26 which are tapped to receive screws for mounting member 21.Casting 20 also includes a central block 28 that supports bracket 29.Disc bending roller 30 is mounted for rotation on bracket 29.

A U-shaped guide shoe 3| rests on springs 25. This shoe is flat exceptfor its end portions which are curved downwardly away from the path offlexible disc 32. Shoe 3| includes depending tabs 33 thatpass over theportions 2| nearest to bracket 29. Screws 34 pass through slotted holesin tabs 33 and screw into portions 2| to position shoe 3| for a limitedvertical movement.

Flexible disc 32 is mounted between member 35 and ring 36 by screws; thearrangement is such that disc 32 rotates With shaft I4. Roller 30 inoperation maintains disc 32 bent, as indicated, from the edge of ring 36outwardly. Disc 32 may be of any flexible material suited for thepurpose; at present, rubber is the preferred material but cloth, orrubber covered cloth, or similar material, may be used.

A metering disc 3l is adapted to contact the top surface of flexibledisc 32. Disc 3l includes a plurality of holes 38 `into which thematerial to be metered ispassed.l Each metering device I0 is providedwith a plurality of spare metering discs. A These spare discs may be ofdifferent thickness, or may have metering holes of different size, ormay have a different number of meteringl holes. Thus, with a properselection of spare discs each metering device IIJ is capable of a widerange of metering rates. With any particular disc a variation inmetering rate may be had byv changing the speed of rotation of shaft I4.The inner portion of disc 31 isv covered by a cap 39. A nut 40 screws onthe end of shaft I4 and applies the pressure to tighten the assembly asrequired to have discs 32 and |31 rotate as a unit with shaft I4.

Member 21,

which is supported on portions V 22, straddles the path of holes 38 indisc 31. At

disc mounted for rotation with said metering disc ing therethrough,means for rotating said disc to the middle of member 21 is anenlargement.4lir1jl l which is formed a chamber that opens at its bottomover the path of'holesI 38. y chamber opens tube V42 through which thegranularmaterial passes from supply hopper 43. The

chamber is made sufficiently large to Yassure com-i Into this pletefilling of holes 438 at any contemplated s speed of rotation of disc 31.To prevent the'free f low of material onto the imperforate surf-aceofdisc 31 the sides of the chamber are lined with a metal backed rubbermember which can be raised and lowered by screws 44 to contact it asrequired,y with the surface of disc 31. Member 21 is pro-1 vided withtwo threaded bosses 45 upon one or the other of which, depending on thedirection of rotation of disc 31, is mounted a pivoted wiper member 46.Y

The metering device-I0, as just described, has been found satisfactoryin use, however, in special cases where operating conditions wereextremely,l severe the life of the flexible disc was lengthened .and theoperation improved by substituting the.

arrangement of Fig. 3 for the guide shoe 3l of Figs. l and 2. 1

As shown in Fig. 3 a casting 3l is provided in place of shoe 3| of theother figures. Casting 3l is formed to hold an inset member 41A uponwhich the under surface of exible disc 32 is adapted to ride., MemberV41 is made of Vsoap-v stone, or similar self-lubricating material, andoffers a minimum resistance to the movement of flexible disc 32 thereon.This, of course, reduces wear ofV disc 32 and renders the operation moresatisfactory. Member 41 is held in .place in its groove by stop pieces48 that are removably fastened to the ends of casting3l.

In ythe operation of the metering granular material passes from supply.hopper 43 through tube 42 and the chamber in enlargement 4| onto thesurface of disc 31. vAsdisc 31A-rotates holes 38 will successively passunder enlargement 4Ifand be filled withy the granular` material, themetal backed rubber member in thechamber of the enlargementpreventsexcessive verfilling of holes 38 and thepassage of the granularmajterial, 'in substantial quantities, to theY imperforate portions ofVdisc31. As the filled holes passunder wiper 46 any excess granularmaterial is wiped off and falls into a hopper, not shown,

v from whence it may be returned to supply hopper` 4K3. As holes 38 passinto the zone where the bending of flexible disc.` 32- occurs, flexible,disc 32 moves away from disc 31 and opens the bottom of vholes 38 todump the material therein for conveyance to the ultimate point of use. vI claim: V v y 1`. A metering device adapted to Aconvey material at apredetermined rate from a point of supply to a point of discharge, whichcomprises, a

'metering disc having.y a plurality o-f holes extending-therethrough,means for rotating saidpdisc toY carry saidy holes from the point ofmaterial supply to the point of dischargaa deformable device ther carrysaid holes from the point of material supply to the point of discharge,a deformable disc maintained against said deformable disc provided witha surface adapted to bear against the bottom of said deformable discfrom the point of material supply to substantially the point ofdischarge, and means for deforming said deformable disc to move itawayfrom said meteringdisc at the point of discharge to openthe bottomof the holes in said metering disc. Y vk1 3.\A metering device adaptedto convey material at a predetermined rate from a .point of supply to apoint of discharge, which comprises, a metering disc having aA pluralityof. holesfextending therethrough, means yfor rotating `said disc tocarryl said holes fromr the point of material supply to the point ofdischarge, a deformable disc *mounted for rotation with said meteringdisc and adapted to contact the bottom `offsaid metering discto closethe bottom oflsaid'hjoles, a non-rotatable resiliently mounted shoe.adapted` to bear against said deformable disc tomaintain said discs incontact with each other, said shoe: including a surface disposedparallel-to the-'bottom surface of said metering disc extending, from li preventing substantial overfilling of saidyvholes Contact vwitheachotherand truth.,- said kk(shoe and uncontrolled passage of thematerial .tothe surface of the metering disc, meansridingon the topsurface of vsaid meteringdiscadapted to wipe. excess material off thetop surface of said meter-'5 ingdisc, and rmeans angularlyI disposed tothe. bottom surface of said metering disc adaptedftof deformsaiddeformable dise to remove lit, fr, Inl contact with the meteringVdisc at thefpointof, discharge. y

4L A metering device mounted for rotation in'saidr stand,a non-rotatablel, support member mounted on said stand, said supportr'nemberincluding.l a plurality ofi cup like bosses, springs in saidbosses,` a shoe: positioned on said springs for,limitedvertical.movement relative to said support member, said 4shoein-l cludingl arl-flat semi-annular body p'orton,afiex-` ible ,discmounted for rotation with said shaft and adaptedto ride onsaidisemi-'annular body portion, a metering'disc having -a .pluralityof', spaced material receiving holes theretltlro'ughl mounted f-,orrotation with said flexibledisvcfarid adapted to bear on `said flexibledisc,A` `plifessureA applying 'meansfor maintainingfusaid discsnl`bracket mounted on: said: support,membre l l tween theends of said'semirarlnulrtr bOdyf J E,

tion and a roller ymounted vorrsaid';b racllrgeft nd angularly, disposedVrelative,l to. `said metering disc,-

said roller being adapted toride"on',tl'ieQtopsul@` face of saidflexible disc to benditfout of contact; einem merrie. dis@- .tOtLfpen@he atomi including a a l said holes for discharge of the material insaid holes.

5, A metering device including a stand, a shaft mounted for rotation insaid stand, a non-rotatable support member mounted on said stand, saidsupport member including a plurality of cuplike bosses, resilient meansin said bosses, a shoe positioned on said resilient means for limitedvertical movement relative said support member, said shoe including afiat semi-annular body portion formed of self-lubricating material, ailexible disc mounted for rotation with said shaft and adapted to rideon said body portion, a metering disc having a plurality of spacedmaterial receiving holes therethrough mounted for rotation with saidshaft and adapted to bear on said flexible disc, pressure applying meansfor maintaining said discs in contact With each other and with said flatbody portion throughout the extent of said body portion, a bracketmounted on said support member between the ends of said semi-annularbody portion, and a roller angularly disposed relative to said meteringdisc mounted on said bracket, said roller being adapted to ride on saidexible disc to remove it from contact with said metering disc to openthe bottom of said holes.

6. A metering device including a stand; a shaft mounted for rotation insaid stand; a non-rotatable support member mounted on said standconcentrically with said shaft; said support member including aplurality of cup-like bosses equally spaced apart on a semi-circleconcentric With said shaft and a pair of radially extending arms equallyspaced from the median line of the semi-circle; springs in said bosses;a shoe positioned on said springs and fastened to said support memberfor limited vertical movement relative thereto; said shoe including a atsemi-annular body portion concentric with said semi-circle; a flexibledisc mounted for rotation on said shaft and adapted to ride on saidshoe; a metering disc mounted for rotation on said shaft, said discbeing provided with spaced holes therethrough; pressure applying meansfor maintaining said discs in contact with each other and with said bodyportion of said shoe; a bracket mounted on said support member betweenthe ends of said body portion; a roller angularly disposed relative tosaid metering disc mounted on said bracket; said roller being adapted toride on the top surface of said flexible disc to remove said flexibledisc out of contact with said metering disc; a member mounted on saidpair of radially extending arms to straddle the perforate portion ofsaid metering disc; said member including a chamber, opened at its topand at its bottom, overlying the path of the holes in said meteringdisc; adjustable means in said chamber adapted to prevent free flow ofmaterial from said chamber onto the surface of the metering disc; saidmember having a pair of bosses equally sp-aced from its middle; and awiper member mounted on one or the other of said bosses adapted to wipeexcess material from the surface of said metering disc.

'7. A metering device adapted to convey material at a predetermined ratefrom a point of supply to a point of discharge, vvhich comprises, ametering member having a plurality of holes therethrough, means formoving said metering member to carry said holes from the point ofmaterial supply to the point of material discharge, a continuousdeformable member mounted for movement with said metering member andadapted to contact the bottom of said metering member to close thebottom of said holes, and means for deiorming said deformable member outof contact with the bottom of said metering member at the point ofmaterial discharge.

' MARTIN A. MIKESH.

